Rivalry rekindled today at ULM

Oct. 4, 2008

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Tucked away atop a filing cabinet in the front office of ULM's Malone Stadium sits a boot-shaped trophy known to few. In 2002, the trophy was created for the UL-ULM football game, which was named "The Battle on the Bayou" that year in an attempt to spark interest for the in-state contest.

The Warhawks beat the Ragin' Cajuns that season, 34-10, at Malone Stadium. It marked the end of a 3-9 campaign for both teams.

A plate with the date and score was added to the trophy for that game. There was space for the addition of future dates and scores.

But the trophy never left Monroe.

Still, the rivalry has continued. When the Cajuns (1-3) open Sun Belt play at 6 p.m. today against ULM (1-3) at Malone Stadium, it will be the 44th meeting between the programs.

After being played at the end of the regular season in five of the past six years, today's game is the earliest they have met since playing on Sept. 12 in 1992. Now the winner grabs an early lead atop the conference standings. The winning side will also likely claim some victories in the recruiting wars.

While there is already plenty of history in the series - it started in 1951, with ULM holding a 23-20 lead - players and coaches from both schools think bringing back the trophy would boost interest in the game.

"I think that would be awesome," said UL quarterback Mike Desormeaux, who missed last season's 17-11 loss due to injury. "It's a big game for us because you always want to beat your big rival, which Monroe is for us. I think they (ULM) think of us the same way.

"Anytime you have anything added to play for, I think that makes the game even more special."

ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie agrees.

Weatherbie compares the intensity in this series to that of other in-state rivalries across the country, including Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. And he knows about that matchup having played quarterback for OSU in the mid-1970s.

But Weatherbie believes the UL-ULM rivalry deserves a better reward for the winning team, which has been the Warhawks in five of the past six meetings.

"I've seen the trophy, and what needs to be done is upgrade the trophy," said Weatherbie, who is 5-2 lifetime against UL. "It's nothing, just a small thing.

"If we're going to make this something that exchanges hands, we need to bring some validity to it."

Wonder what ULM linebacker Josh Thomas knows about the trophy?

Probably as much as you do.

"I haven't even seen it," said the junior from Port Barre. "I don't know anything about it. This is a big game regardless.

"But bringing back that trophy could spice things up a little bit."

This year's winner will have to settle for something less tangible than a trophy.

But in some cases, the current prize means more than any hardware.

ULM tight end Zeek Zacharie, who played at Catholic-New Iberia with Desormeaux, said the Cajuns are his program's "biggest" rival.

UL wide receiver Louis Lee was recruited by both programs out of high school. ULM has won the past two games in the series, so beating the Warhawks for the first time would be "something special" according to Lee.

The same opinion is shared by ULM defensive back Josh Thompson, who missed last season's game because of a shoulder injury. The junior, a Carencro High grad, stays in touch with current UL players Derik Keyes, Caleb Rubin and Derrick Smith on a regular basis.

When this game comes around each season, friendly conversations turn into a war of words.

"The coaches and fans probably don't take it as seriously as the players do," Thompson said. "We all know a couple guys from the other team, and there's a little jawing back and forth leading up to the game. But we're not friends when we step on the gridiron.

"Whoever wins this game gets to brag until next year."

UL defensive line coach Gerald Broussard, who played for the Cajuns from 1979-83, offered a simple solution to increasing the interest in the series. His suggestion involved no trophy upgrades.

"If we both win, this will become a bigger game," said Broussard, who has spent 15 years as an assistant at UL. "We both have to do our part to develop our programs to win on a consistent basis.